Different Voices

“I believe this story about Venus and Mars is a galactic misunderstanding. And even if you think we live on different planets, don’t we orbit the same sun?” Romano Prodi, European Commission President, speaking in Washington on the eve of yesterday’s (25 June) EU-US summit about the necessity for Europe and America to cooperate. The blocs had been referred to as ‘Venus and Mars’.

“After two to three years of good relations, Turkey has begun employing arrogant tactics again…sending its warplanes into our military space, provoking clashes with our aircraft. We have informed NATO, the EU and Russia about it.” Greek Defence Minister Yiannos Papantoniou, in Moscow this week, accusing Turkey of engaging in all the wrong moves.

“[Aznar is] the little Führer with the moustache.” Cuban President Fidel Castro, while leading a mass protest against the Spanish government outside Spain’s embassy in Havana on Saturday (21 June). He branded the Spanish premier a “fascist”. Relations between Cuba and the EU are currently at an all-time low.

“We need to prevent this need for pre-emption.” Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou speaking in Washington on Tuesday (24 June) on the necessity to avoid America’s pre-emptive strikes doctrine being used against potentially dangerous countries.